Sport anglers can look forward to another banner spot shrimp fishing season when it begins Saturday

State Fish and Wildlife recently conducted abundance test fishing, and those indicated a healthy population of these deep-dwelling, prawns-sized tasty shrimp.

“We saw good catches in our test fisheries for most areas, and abundance is same as the past couple of years and slightly higher from Seattle southward,” said Mark O’Toole, a state Fish and Wildlife Puget Sound shellfish biologist. “The seasons are pretty much the same as last year, and it looks like it will be a good year overall.”

Bucket-loads of shrimp are not uncommon in the San Juan Islands and eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca spot prawn fishery. Be sure to check WDFW regulations before you go. Photo courtesy of Tony Floor.

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“Our abundance surveys in Hood Canal showed it was really good, which is a positive change from last year,” O’Toole said. “Some locations where we conduct our test fishing were unusually barren last year, and that transferred over into the sport fishery.”

The total daily average during the four days it was open last year in Hood Canal was about 14.5 pounds of spot shrimp per boat. The opening day produced an average of 15.2 pounds (17.0 in 2015 on the same date, 17.6 in 2014 and 18.0 in 2013).

One popular location situated in front of the Seattle skyline is Elliott Bay, and while no test fishing was conducted O’Toole is predicting…